Agartala, January 15, 2026: In an effort to dispel misinformation and create public awareness on Nipah Virus Disease (NVD), the higher officials of the National Health Mission, Tripura and Health Department on Thursday assured citizens that no Nipah outbreak has been reported in Tripura so far and that all precautionary measures are firmly in place.
Speaking to media personnel at Secretariat in Agartala city on Thursday evening, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Saju Waheed A, said that the press briefing was organized to share authentic and verified information with the public amid reports of Nipah cases from other parts of the country.
“Nipah Virus is a rare but serious zoonotic disease. While human infections are uncommon, timely awareness and preventive behaviour are crucial to prevent its spread,” Waheed said.
HoD of the Microbiologist department in the AGMC, Dr Tapan Majumder informed that Nipah cases in India have largely been reported from Kerala since 2018, with a recent outbreak recorded in July 2025 in Palakkad and Malappuram districts. Two cases have also been reported from West Bengal, he added, while reiterating that Tripura remains unaffected.
“At present, there is no outbreak in Tripura. The Health Department is fully prepared and has taken all preventive and preparedness measures,” Dr Majumder assured.
Explaining the mode of transmission, the Dr Majumder stated that the virus can spread through consumption of raw or unprocessed date palm sap, fruits contaminated by bats, close contact with infected persons, or improper infection control practices in healthcare settings.
Highlighting symptoms, he said common signs include fever, headache, body ache, vomiting, weakness and breathing difficulties, while severe cases may lead to encephalitis causing confusion, seizures or unconsciousness.
“There is no specific treatment for Nipah Virus. Management is limited to intensive supportive care. Therefore, prevention is the most important step,” he emphasized.
Advising the public, he urged citizens to avoid raw date palm sap or toddy, consume only washed and properly peeled fruits, maintain hand hygiene, avoid contact with sick persons and strictly follow government advisories.
He further stated that the Health Department has strengthened surveillance, hospital preparedness, isolation facilities and infection control protocols, and healthcare personnel are being trained to detect and manage suspected cases at an early stage.
“There is no need to panic. People should rely only on verified information and cooperate with health advisories. Media support is crucial in spreading correct information and awareness,” Dr Majumder told reporters.
Director of Health Services Dr. Debashree Debbarma said that three to four meetings have been held under the chairmanship of Secretary Kiran Gitte. He stated that the Health Department is fully prepared and a detailed roadmap has been drawn up. Elaborate discussions have been conducted, and a Rapid Response Team will be constituted and kept active round the clock. He added that if patients with respiratory symptoms report, all necessary investigations will be carried out. While sporadic cases have been reported across the country, continuous monitoring will be maintained.
